Cisco in Montana
Cisco in Montana: standard chart lines, water exceptions and record entries.
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Cisco: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
What FWP prints about Cisco
FWP's district charts do not name cisco. Across 9 Montana water pages, FWP's MFISH layer or the 2026 plant report names it; 4 use the word common or abundant.
FWP prints 3 exception headings naming it, Lake Elwell aka Tiber Reservoir for example. FWP's record table lists 1 entry for it.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Exception headings that name cisco
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Peck Reservoir | Eastern | Dead cisco can be used as bait. Can only be collected from the Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam (in Montana) or in Fort Peck Reservoir. | page 80 |
| Lake Elwell aka Tiber Reservoir | Central | Cisco and whitefish: all fish must be released immediately or killed and counted as part of your limit. It is unlawful to possess live cisco or whitefish for any reason. | page 59 |
| Tiber Reservoir aka Lake Elwell | Central | Cisco and whitefish: all fish must be released immediately or killed and counted as part of your limit. It is unlawful to possess live cisco or whitefish for any reason. | page 67 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Origins of the record cisco
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | 2.08 lbs. | 18.2 | Missouri River | 2014 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Water pages on this site mentioning cisco
The word after each water is FWP's own MFISH rating (abundant, common or rare), listed when FWP rates none, or stocked from a 2026 plant row; it is not a catch report.
- Fort Peck LakeMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Tiber ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Liberty County
- Fort Peck Powerhouse TailraceMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Fort Peck Dredge CutsMFISH: common; Valley County
- Yellowstone RiverMFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Missouri RiverMFISH: listed; Chouteau County
- Milk RiverMFISH: listed; Valley County
- Marias RiverMFISH: listed; Liberty County
- Judith RiverMFISH: listed; Fergus County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Photo of Fort Peck Lake: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Plain replies about Cisco for Montana trips
What daily number does FWP print for cisco?
FWP's district charts do not name cisco. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Are there named waters with a separate cisco rule?
FWP prints 3 exception headings naming it, Lake Elwell aka Tiber Reservoir for example.
What does the FWP record book show for cisco?
FWP prints 2.08 lbs., Missouri River, 2014.
Which pages on this site mention cisco?
Pages naming it number 9; Fort Peck Lake, Tiber Reservoir and Fort Peck Powerhouse Tailrace leads.
Where did hatchery cisco go in 2026?
FWP logged no planting of it this year.
License needed for a day on cisco water?
Anglers 12 and older buy a Conservation License, an aquatic invasive species pass and a fishing license; the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations prints $8, $2 and $21 for a resident full season and $10, $7.50 and $100 for a nonresident.
How does FWP accept a record cisco?
FWP certifies each record with a weighed fish, a biologist's identification and paperwork.
Can I fish for cisco year-round in Montana?
FWP prints general seasons per district for streams and for lakes, with exceptions for named waters.